Electric time-alarm and annunciator



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

N. H. SUREN. ELECTRIC TIME ALARM AND ANNUNGIATOR.

No. 422,654. Patented Mar. 4, 1890.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I (No Model.)

N. H. SUREN. ELECTRIC TIME ALARM AND ANNUNOIATOR. No. 422,654. PatentedMar. 4, 1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet- 3.

N. H. SUREN. ELECTRIC TIME ALARM AND ANNUNGIATOR. No. 422,654. PatentedMar. 4, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

NATHAN H. SUREN, OF FORT IVORTII, TEXAS.

ELECTRIC TIME-ALARM AND ANNUNCIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,654, dated March 4,1890.

Application filed December 10, 1888. Serial No. 293,068. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN H. SUREN, of Fort Worth, in the county ofTarrant and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved ElectricTime-Alarm and Annunciator, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, inwhich- Figure 1 is a front elevation of myimproved electric time alarmand annunciator with parts broken away to show the interiorconstruction. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation showing the circuitsdiagrammatically, and Fig. 3 is a side sectional elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

My invention relates to a combined call and annunciator system by whichan ynumber of signals can be sent automatically or manually and varioussignals received through the annunciator, the apparatus serving to sendsignals to or from any number of distant points on the circuit at anytime.

It also relates to a device whereby a firealarm signal maybe sent toevery point on the circuit. This particular feature of my invention isespecially applicable to hotels and other buildings whereannunciatorsare used. v

My invention consists in the combination, with a clock and an electricgenerator, of a series of circuits and alarm devices, as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

It also consists inmechanism by means of which contacts may be formedfor each branch of the circuit simultaneously, all as hereinafter morefully described.

The casing A, in which the mechanism of my improved electric time-alarmand annunciator is contained, is formed of the back piece B, the frontplate 0, the bottom board D, the curved elevated top E, and thecross-pieces F F F for supporting the parts of the mechanism. In theupper portion E of the casing A is placed a clock-movement G, having thehour-hand arbor II prolonged beyond the back of the casing A. In thepresent case I have shown the mechanism adapted to four circuits only;but the system may be extended to include any desired number ofcircuits.

- Upon the cross-pieces F F are arranged straight electro-maguets I andthe annunciator-magnets J. Under each magnet I is arranged a shaft K,which extends through the casing A and projects beyond the rear thereof,Where it is provided with an arm a. In the end of the arm a is pivotedan obliquelyarranged forked lever 7), which extends inward toward theback piece B and the shaft K, the fork c of the said lever 1) extendingover the annular concentric contact-pieces e f, secured to the backpiece 13, the forked end of the said lever being pressed by a spring g,which causes its fork to normally contact with the inner contact-piecef. The outer and shorter arm of the forked lever 7) extends beyond theend of the arm a and is provided with a convex head h.

To each of the shafts K is attached a dial L, consisting of a flat ring1', supported by arms from the said shafts. On each shaft K is alsosecured a hand-wheel j, by which it may be turned and pushed in themanner presently to be described, and outside the wheel j a pendant 7ais loosely pivoted to the end of the shaft K, the said pendant bearingthe annunciatorqiumber, as shown in Fig. 1. This pend ant, having itscenter of gravity below its pivot, always maintains its verticalposition without regard to the position of the shaft K.

Upon the shaft K,within the casing A, is secured a beveled disk I, withits larger side toward the front of the casing A and between the saidbeveled diskand the edge of the cross-piece F is placed a spring m,which tends to press the shaft K toward the front of the casing, saidspring being secured at one end to the edge of the eross-piece, as shownin Fig. 1. To the top of the cross-piece F is secured a spring 21,provided with a catch 0, capable of engaging the periphery of thebeveled disk Z on the shaft K. It is also furnished with a right-angledarm 1.), extending upward and carryinga catch q. To the crosspiece F isalso secured a standard r, to which is attached a beveled cam 5'.

To the back piece B of the casing A issecured a right-angledarmature-spring M, carrying an armature t opposite the pole of themagnet I, the said armature spring M being prolonged beyond the armaturet and pivotally-connected with an angled rod a and with an offsetslotted rod 2*. The lower end of the rod in is provided with a catch it,which is capable of engaging the catch g. It also carries a beveled cama, which is adapted to slide upon the beveled cam s.

In the front plate C, above each shaft K, is formed a sectoral opening,and behind the front plate 0, concentric with the shafts K, are arrangeddisks N, provided with colored sectors 1) c. The sectoral openings inthe front plate 0 include about one-quarter of a circle, and the coloredsectors Z) 0 each cover one-eighth of the surface of the disk N. Pins cl6' project from the rear face of each disk N,the pin 6' entering theslotf' in rod t, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Above the magnets J are arranged the rockshafts g, each rock-shaftcarrying an armature h within the field of its magnet J, also a wing t",adjoining the inner surface of the front plate 0.

\Vithin the casing A is arranged a frame 0, which is capable of beingmoved up and down upon studs projecting from the edges of thecross-pieces F F by the cross-lever 0, attached to the rock-shaft O inthe bottom of the casing A, the said frame 0 being slotted to receivethe studs, the said rock-shaft 0 being provided with an arm 0", forengaging the frame 0 when the shaft 0 is turned. The vertical arms L ofthe frame 0 are provided with lugs l, which are adapted to engage thepins (l of the disks Nwhen the said frame 0 is raised. The vertical armsis of the frame 0 are also provided with right-angled fingers on, havingbeveled ends, which are capable of engaging the wings t of the shafts g.The outer end of each shaft g is pro vided with a pointer n, which iscapable of moving over the dial L when the armature 72/ is acted upon bythe magnet J.

In the back piece B are inserted internallythreaded sleeves 0, whichreceive threaded studs 1), (in the present case four in number.) Eachstud p is provided with a pinion g, which is fixed to the stud, andwhich is capable of turning the stud in the manner presently described.

Outside of the pinion q and upon the end of the stud p is placed asleeve '7", carrying a sprocket-wheel s and a crank 25. The foursprocket-wheels s are connected by a chain a, which causes them torotate together, and upon the cranks t are placed the arms of anX-shaped frame P. The frame P carries four studs t, which are distantfrom the centers of the shafts K an amount equal to the length of thecrank t, so that when the said cranks i are revolved simultaneously eachstud d is made to describe a circle of the same radius as that of thecranks, so that when the shaft K is moved forward, so as to bring thedisk Z into engagement with the catch 0, the convex heads ft of thelevers Z) will be in the paths of the said pins n.

In the upper portion of the casing A is journaled the tubular shaft Q,carrying at its rear end a sprocket-wheel w, which engages the chain a.In the tubular shaft Q is placed the shaft R, carrying upon its rear endthe sprocket-wheel S, which receives motion from a sprocket-wheel T onthe arbor H of the clock G through the endless chain 0;. The free end ofthe tubular shaft Q is provided with a crank a by which it may beturned, and the corresponding end of the shaft R is furnished with anarm b through the end of which passes a pin 0 which enters a hole in thecrank (6 so that in the normal working of the apparatus the shafts Q Rwill revolve together.

In guides upon the back piece B are placed rack-bars (Z d, which areoppositely arranged with respect to each other and which engage thepinions q. The rack-bars (Z d are connected by a lever e whichcommunicates motion from the upper rack-bar d to the lower rack-bar dand causes the said rackbars to move in opposite directions when theupper one is moved. The upper rack-bar (Z is provided with an arm fwhich extends upwardly and carries a rod which extends through thecasing A and projects beyond the front thereof, where it is attached torackbar 7&2 at the front of the casing. The tubular shaft Q is providedwith a pinion 2' which is capable of engaging the rack-bar 7L2 and ofmoving it forward.

Each inner contact f is connected with one terminal of the adjacentannunciator-magnet J, and the outer annular contact c is connected withone terminal of the adjacent magnet I. The remaining terminal of eachannuneiator-magnet J is connected with the alarm-bell magnet j which inturn is connected with the positive pole of the battery U. The remainingterminal of each magnet I is connected with the negative pole of thebattery and wit-h a series of push-buttons W. A series of electric bellsZ is connected with the positive pole of the battery U, and also,through the push-buttons with the shaft K, one bell being connectedelectrically with each shaft K. The push-buttons k are provided withback contacts, which form a direct connection from the shafts K tothebells, and with front contacts,which form a connection bet-ween theconductors extending from the shafts K and the battery U.

The operation of my improved electric timealarm and annunciatoris asfollows: The dial L behind the pendant 7t, represent-ing the room of theperson who desires to be called, is turned until the mark of the hour atwhich the call is to be made is below the mark upon the front plate C.This brings the arm a at the back of the casing A into a positioncorresponding with the position of the same mark upon the dial of theclock G. At the same time the shaft K is pushed forward, bringing thebeveled disk Z into engagement with the catch 0. This operation carriesforward the arm a, so that the convex head hof the lever I) is inthepath of the stud e, which IIO is tooperate the lever 12. The frame P, by

virtue of its connection with the hour-hand arbor of the clock G, ismade to revolve synchronously with the hour-hand of the clock, thuscausing the studs 4) carried thereby to occupy the same positionsrelative to the shafts K as the end of the hour-hand occupies inrelation to the hour-hand arbor H. It will thus be seen that the studs12 exactly copy the movements of the hour-hand, and the arms a whenadjusted occupy the position of the figure on the dial representing thehour at which the eallis to be made, so that when one, of the studs 1:in its revolution strikes the convex head it of the lever b the convexhead h will be pushed forward toward the back piece B, therebyturningthe lever-b on its pivot, so as to remove. the forkedend of the saidlever from the inner contact-piece 2o fand bring it into contact withthe outer contact-piece 6, thereby completing the circuit through theconnections already described. The current .will then flow from thepositive pole of the battery U to the call-bell Z in the room Where analarm is desired, throughthe push-button k to the shaft K, thencethrough the arm a, the lever b, the contact e to the magnet I, thenceback to the negative pole of thebattery. The magnetI beingenergized, thearmature t, attached to the springarm M, is drawn down, thereby carryingthe catch to downward into engagement with the catch q on the spring a.At the same time the rod 4;, by engagement with the: pin ef on the diskN, turns the said disk so as to display the two sectors of color throughthe aperture in the front plate Oof the casing A.

The appearance of these colored sectors indicates to the attendant atthe ofiice that the instrument has eausedthe alarm andthat the occupantof the room in which the alarm is madehas not replied. The alarmcontinues to sound until the occupant of the room rises and pushes thebutton W, or until the stud o slips off from the convex head h of thelever 12. In either casethe circuit of the magnet I is broken. When thecircuit is broken by pushing the button 10 the current ceases to flowthrough the magnet 1. When the springarm M is released, the, catch 10 isdrawn upward,lifting the catch 0 from the beveled disk l, allowing thespring on to push the shaft K forward, breaking the contact between thelever 1) and the outer contact-piece e and restoring the contact betweenthe said lever and the inner contact-piece f. As the catch 10 movesupward, the engagement of the cam a with the cam 5 causes the catch w torelease the catch q, thus allowing the spring-arm nto return to itsnormal position. At the same time therod '12 engages the pin 6 fromtheopposite side and returns the disk N toward its point of starting; but,owing to the loss of motion by virtue of the slot f in the rod 1), thedisk N is turned only so far as is necessary to obscure only one half ofthe colored portion thereof, allowing the otherhalf to remain visiblethrough the opening of the front plate 0, thus indicating 'to theattendant that the alarmhas been given and has ceased. The but-ton kwhen pushed completes the circuit from the negative pole of the batterythrough the shaft K, through the lever 12, contact e, annunciator-magnetJ, and through the electric bell 7' of the annunciator back to thebattery. The current flowin g through the annunciator: magnet J attractsthe armature h and turns the shaft 9 so as to cause the pointer n topoint toward the figure representing the room in which the call is made.The shaft g having a small amount of friction in its bearings, retainsthe position in which it is placed by the action of the magnet J whenthe current ceases, so that the pointer continues to point to the numberuntil replaced by the attendant in a manner presently to be described.The electric bell continues to ring so long as the push-button ispressed.

When the attendant desires to replace the parts of the annunciator andalarm mechanism which have been moved in the operation of making a call,the lever O is turned,

throwing up the frame 0, thereby bringing the lugs 1 into engagementwith the pins d,

projecting from the rear surface of the disks -N, causing the said disksto display a blank space in the front plate 0. At the same time theangled fingers m engage the wings 11' of the shafts g, returning thepointer 71 to a verticalposition.

When the occupant of a room desires to make a signal at the oifice, hepresses the button 10 thereby sending a current through theannuneiatormagnet and bell only, when the only effect produced is the turning ofthe shaft g, so as to cause the pointer 01. to point to the numberrepresenting the room.

A fire-alarm is given by causing. several separate and distinct signalsto be sent through all of the circuits connected with the apparatus.This is effected by removing the pin 0 from the arm b thereby detaehingthe calling mechanism from the clock-movement, then drawing forward therack-bar 7L2 until it is in engagement with the pinion 1L on the tubularshaft Q. When this is done, the sprocket-wheels .9 may be turned bymeans of the crank a carried by the tubular shaft Q. At the same timethe rack-bar 11 will be carried forward, thereby moving the rack-bars d(1 through the medium of the bar g arm f and the lever e connecting thesaid rack-bars d (1 These rackbars being in engagement-with the pinionsg on the screw-threaded studs 19', their movement causes the saidthreaded studs to turn, carrying the sleeves r and the cranks t attachedthereto, together with'the X-shaped frame P, toward the back piece 13,thereby bringing the studs 11 into position to strike the convex heads hof the leversb as the said frame P is turned. By this arrange ment onceduring each revolution of the frame P the levers b are operated so as torevolutions without affecting the rack-bar 7L2 after the last tooth ofthe said rack-bar passes beyond the pinion i Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure. by Letters Patent- 1. Inan electric time-alarmand annunciator, the combination, with a clock, ofone or more movable auxiliary'dials, a circuit-controlling leverconnected with each dial and movable therewith, and a lever-operatingframe taking motion from the hour-hand arbor of the clock and arrangedto move the circuit-controlling lever or levers, substantially asspecified.

2. In an electric time-alarm and annunci ator, the combination, with theclock G, provided with an elongated hour-hand arbor H, v

of the sleeves 0'', having cranks t, the frame P, mounted upon thecranks t and carrying studs r, the circuit-controlling levers b, adaptedto be moved by the studs "0, and means, substantially as described, forimparting motion from the hour-hand arbor H to the cranks 2i.

3. In an electric time-alarm and annunciator, the combination of theframe P, adapted to be moved circularly by the hour-hand arbor H, theshafts K, provided with arms a, the spring-pressed levers I), havingconvex heads upon one end and a fork upon the opposite end, the annularcontact-pieces f e, the beveled disk Z, secured to the shaft K, thespring on, the catch 0, adapted to hold the disk Z against the pressureof the springm, and the circuit-wires and alarm-bell, substantially asspecified.

t. In an electric time-alarm and annunciator, the combination of theshaft K, provided with the arm a, the dial L, attached to the saidshaft, the hand-wheel j, the pendant k, the lever Z), pivoted in the arma and provided with a convex head upon one end and a fork upon the otherend, the contacts a f, the beveled disk Z, the spring m, the catch 0,the frame P, adapted to be moved circularly by the clock and providedwith the studs 0', the disk N, provided with different-colored sectorsand furnished with pins (1' e, the spring armature-arm M, the slottedrod o, adapted to engage the pin e, the replacingframe 0, and theelectric generator and circuit wires, substantially as specified.

5. In an electric time-alarm and annunciator, the combination, with thecontact-carrying shaft K, of the beveled disk Z, secured to the saidshaft, the spring m, arranged to press the shaft forward, the spring n,provided with the catches 0 q, the electro-magnet I, the springarmature-arm M, carrying the armature t, the bent catch-arm u, furnishedwith the cam a and catch 10, and the stationary cam s, substantially asspecified.

6. In an electric time-alarm and annunciator, the combination of theframe P, adapted to be moved circularly by a clock and provided withstuds 0', the shafts K, each provided with an arm a and carrying thelevers Z) and beveled disk Z, the spring m, the contacts e f, theannunciator electro-magnet J, the shaft g, furnished with the armature hand wing 1", the pointer n, carried by the shaft g, the dial L, the diskN, provided with dilIerent-colored sectors, an alarm-bell andpush-button placed at a distant station, an electric generator, andelectric circuits, substantially as specified.

7. In an electric time-alarm and annunciator, the combination of thecranks t, the sleeves r, the sprocket-wheels s, the chain a, the tubularshaft Q, the sprocket-wheel w, placed thereon and adapted to engage thechain a, the shaft R, encircled by the tubular shaft Q and furnishedwith the arm b the sprocket-wheel S, attached to the shaft R, the cranka attached to the tubular shaft Q, the sprocket-wheel T on the hour-handarbor H of the clock, the chain to, engaging the sprocket-wheels S '1,the circuit-controlling levers b, and the circuit-wires, substantiallyas specified.

8. In an electric time-alarm and annunciator, the co1nbination,with thescrew-threaded studs 19, the pinions q, mounted thereon, the rack-bars(Z (Z the lever 6 connecting the said racks, the rack-bar 72 connectedwith the rack-bar (Z the pinion 1' and the tubular shaft Q,substantially as specified.

9. In an electric time-alarm and annunciator, the combination, with thependants k, of the annunciator-magnets J, the pointers n, the shafts g,the armatures h, attached to the said shafts, the wings Z, mounted onthe shafts g, the apertured front plate 0, the disks N, furnished withcolored sectors and provided with pins d e, the electromagnet I, thespring armature-arm M, the slotted rod 4;, connecting with the said armand receiving the pin e in its slot, and the replacing-frame O,furnished with lugs Z and angled fingers m',substantially as specified.

NATHAN H. SUREN.

Vitnesses:

GEO. M. HOPKINS, E. M. CLARK.

